On a night where one football legend received a grand farewell from his country, about 6,000 miles away, another released a lengthy statement discussing all the ways In which he had been wronged by his national team coach.

Argentina great Lionel Messi took the adulation of the crowd in Buenos Aires as his glittering international career ended with a goal against Benin on an emotional night.

Meanwhile, Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo released a statement on social media, accusing manager Jorge Jesus of an “absolute breach of trust” while admitting he should be held accountable for his own actions.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward left his country’s Nations League camp last week after being an unused substitute against Norway and then finding out he would not start against Denmark.

Portuguese journalist Jose Delgado says “things will never be the same again” for Ronaldo and Portugal – so is this the beginning of the end?

Jesus has said the door is open for Ronaldo to return to the national team, but is it? Or will this saga continue, potentially closing the book on the international career of one of the greatest players of all time?

BBC Sport takes a look at what could be the end of the international careers of two football greats.

What is going on with Ronaldo?

The Ronaldo saga has been rumbling on for some time, with many fans critical of former Portugal boss Roberto Martinez’s insistence on starting Ronaldo at this summer’s World Cup.

At 41 years old, Ronaldo is not the dynamic player he once was and many suggested his presence hindered the team rather than helped.

However, things came to a head on Sunday when Ronaldo was an unused substitute in the Nations League win over Norway. The player subsequently left camp after finding out he would not start against Denmark in November.

On Tuesday, Ronaldo released an almost 2,000-word statement on Instagram in which he said Jesus had twice “broke his word” and accused him of an “absolute breach of trust” for firstly not playing him against Norway after saying he would, before going back on a decision to present an agreed version of events to the media.

Ronaldo apologised to fans and team-mates for leaving the camp and said the consequences of that must be “assessed and punished” while also dismissing any suggestion that he had played his last match for Portugal.

“We will have one or more farewell matches, there will be time for that,” the statement said.

Manager Jesus said on Sunday the door remains open for Ronaldo to return if he chooses to, but many are suggesting the damage is already done.

Portuguese football journalist Delgado told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I don’t think there is a way back. In the statement, Ronaldo says he will return to the national team but at the same time he calls Jesus a liar three times.

“In the polls in Portugal made about this issue, only 15% of the Portuguese were on Ronaldo’s side and people think we owe him a lot but his time is already done and he must understand it.

“The problem is that Ronaldo does not understand it, he wants to keep playing as if he was 24, not 41.

“Things will never be the same again. No matter what happens, no matter if he plays again or if you have a game to say goodbye to Ronaldo things will never be the same.

“What Ronaldo did for Portuguese football is unique and incredible and we must thank him for all the service he gave to Portugal. But at 41, he has no place in the best XI of Portugal.”

Manager Jesus has reportedly said that he had not seen Ronaldo’s statement as he was watching the Portugal under-21 game.

Al-Nassr forward Ronaldo has scored 146 goals in 234 Portugal appearances – both world records – helping them win Euro 2016 and the Nations League twice.

It seems unlikely that Ronaldo will voluntarily retire from the national team before he hits the elusive 1,000 goal mark he is chasing for club and country – he currently has 979.

But have his actions made the situation untenable?

When it comes to fans, opinions appear to be split.

On several billboards in Lisbon posters have been put up praising Ronaldo and criticising Jesus.

They read, in Portuguese: “Thank you Cristiano Ronaldo for everything you did for Portugal. You will always be our captain.

“Jorge Jesus was not up to the task. Lack of sensitivity. Treating a captain wrongly. Inflated ego.”

At the Denmark game, some fans wore T-shirts spelling out ‘Love you Jesus’ while others were head-to-toe in Ronaldo merch.

What next for Messi?

In stark contrast, Messi brought the curtain down on his illustrious Argentina career, where he has won one World Cup and two Copa Americas, in front of an 85,000-strong sellout crowd inside the Monumental in Buenos Aires.

The 39-year-old announced his retirement from international football in August after Argentina finished runners-up at the World Cup and following the death of his father Jorge.

Messi marked his final appearance for La Albiceleste with a goal before addressing the adoring fans in a speech lasting nearly 10 minutes.

Some of his team-mates were in tears as Messi admitted he did not want to leave the field.

“There are so many emotions going through me right now,” he said. “I’m surely forgetting many things I would like to say because this is a very difficult moment for me. The first person who comes to my mind is my dad.

“I leave grateful, proud and at peace. Thank you for everything.”

Messi departs as the record appearance-maker and goal-scorer for Argentina but will continue his club career with Major League Soccer team Inter Miami.

It seems the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner wants to enter the world of football club ownership and is making moves to do so.

He already owns two clubs – Spanish fifth-tier side UE Cornella and second-tier CD Eldense – as well as being a partner in the restaurant chain El Club de la Milanesa, which plans to open five branches in Catalonia.

Messi also has a lifetime deal with Adidas and a collection with drinkware brand Stanley as well as investing in the property and hotel industries.

Football expert Guillem Balague said: “Coach Lionel Scaloni insists that if Messi ever wants to carry on, he can, and there is no embarrassment in changing one’s mind. But that chapter seems closed.

“Ask the people around him what comes after that and they smile, because Messi has never really planned beyond his next game.

“Even so, the shape of what lies ahead is already in front of us. He will stay inside football, because he would struggle to live without it, but his other business interests stretch far outside the game.” (BBC)

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